St. Mary’s to Celebrate Catholic Schools Week

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The Schools of Saint Mary will be celebrating Catholic Schools Week January 29 – February 4. The theme of Catholic Schools Week 2017 is “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service.”

At St. Mary’s, students in Nursery through Grade 12 flourish in an innovative and nurturing educational environment rooted in Catholic values. The mission of the school is to empower students to find inspiration and joy as they discover themselves and learn what they are capable of accomplishing. Small class sizes foster a more personal connection between students and faculty. Faculty and administrators at St. Mary’s strive to educate the whole child – intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, socially and physically.

The use of cutting-edge technology, including campus-wide wireless capabilities, an online system that allows students and parents to access homework and grades, and school-issued iPads for every student in sixth through twelfth grade, helps teachers provide students with a strong academic foundation. At the
early childhood and primary grade levels, students actively explore concepts and develop skills through an interdisciplinary approach utilizing the latest technology, hands-on learning materials, and skill-related experiences. Students in grades 6-12 incorporate technology as an interactive tool that enables them to be independent learners while investigating research based learning. The St. Mary’s education is about more than just academics – spiritual values, a sense of service and the growth of faith are fostered by connecting Gospel values to all parts of the curriculum, including core academic classes, allowing students at all grade levels to deepen their own moral standards and ethics. Students learn about the tenets and meaning of their faith and how to live it joyfully, especially in serving others within the school and greater community.

The school day doesn’t end when the last bell rings – St. Mary’s becomes a vibrant after-school community as students at all grade levels participate in a wide range of extracurricular clubs and activities, exploring their talents and skills outside of academia.

Middle school and high school students gain an appreciation for the arts and develop their creativity through participation in the Fine and Performing Arts Program, taking classes in art, chorus, band, orchestra, dance or stage performance; performing arts students learn from and work alongside professionals in those fields, thanks to St. Mary’s collaboration with The Josephine Foundation. The Schools of St. Mary is also proud of its competitive athletics programs at the middle school and high school levels, which are highly regarded for both excellent coaching and superb sportsmanship.

From the early childhood students to high school seniors, The Schools of St. Mary is preparing inspired thinkers and creative leaders, guiding all our students as they develop the character traits of great leaders and skilled team players, including creativity, flexibility, diligence, perseverance, accountability, and responsibility.
At every level, St. Mary’s balances strong academic development with
experience to encourage personal growth. Exceptional faculty and staff inspire
each and every student along their educational journey, always promoting
the safe and welcoming culture that is one of the hallmarks of the St. Mary’s
experience.
Saint Mary’s Elementary School will mark the beginning of Catholic Schools
Week by hosting an Open House for Admissions on Sunday, January 29 from
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. St. Mary’s High School will also be open for tours.
Prospective families will have the opportunity to view the facilities and meet
with current St. Mary’s teachers, administrators, students, and parents. All are
invited to join the St. Mary’s community for Mass beforehand at 10:30 a.m. to
celebrate the opening of Catholic Schools Week. There will be activities and
events throughout the week including a book fair every day in the Elementary
School library; a Frozen T-shirt Day on Jan. 30, when students will be able
to come to school in either a blue or white shirt; an Open House for current
parents on Jan. 31, when parents are invited to visit their children’s classrooms
to see what happens at St. Mary’s during the school day; and Distinguished Guest Day on Feb. 2, when students can bring a family member to spend the morning engaging with the children in normal classroom activities as well as special projects.